Story summary
Birds of mountains and open country
Native birds that live in open country – mountain zones, tussock grasslands, shrublands, wide river beds, beaches and farmland – include:
- kea
- rock wrens
- New Zealand pipits
- welcome swallows.
Introduced species such as skylarks, game birds and magpies can also be found.
Extinct species
Native birds that once lived in open country, but are now extinct, include:
- moa
- flightless geese
- New Zealand ravens
- laughing owls.
Kea – the mountain parrot
Kea live in the South Island’s mountains – they are an alpine parrot. They were named by Māori after their call – ‘ke-aa’.
Kea antics
Kea are intelligent, curious and playful. They slide on hut roofs, kick snow onto people’s heads, and steal shiny metal objects. They also break into containers like rubbish bins, looking for food. Kea will tear up tents, backpacks and clothing, and pull rubber wiper-blades off cars.
Kea and sheep
Kea sometimes attack sheep. At one time they were blamed for problems with farming, and many were shot. Today they are protected from hunting.
Rock wren
Tiny rock wrens are found high in the South Island’s mountains. They live in gaps under boulders, which shelter them from winter snows. They make complicated nests out of grass, moss, leaves and tussock, lined with feathers, with a small tunnel as the entrance. Rock wrens are from the ancient New Zealand wren family, which was already in New Zealand when it split from the Gondwana supercontinent, 85 million years ago.
New Zealand pipit
New Zealand pipits live near beaches, in grasslands and on open river beds. Lively birds which wag their tails up and down constantly, they mainly eat insects. They are grey-brown with white eyebrows.
Welcome swallow
Welcome swallows arrived in New Zealand in the 1950s, probably from Australia. They use mud to build their cup-shaped nests, which hang from vertical surfaces such as walls. In winter, they form large flocks and fly where they can find food.
